Browsing by Author "Vega Vega, Gladys Vanessa"

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    ESTADO NUTRICIONAL E ÍNDICE ERITROCITARIO EN ADOLESCENTES EN UNA POBLACIÓN RURAL ECUATORIANA
    (2025-06-18) Vega Vega, Gladys Vanessa; Arráiz de Fernández, Carolina; Universidad Técnica de Ambato / Facultad de Ciencias de Salud / Carrera de Enfermería
    Introduction: Nutrition and red blood cell health during adolescence are public health priorities. Recent studies reveal high prevalences of malnutrition due to deficit and excess in adolescents globally. In Ecuador, the 2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey revealed a prevalence of 25.7% of chronic malnutrition and 29.9% of overweight/obesity in adolescents. Objective: The objective was to analyze the relationship between nutritional status and red blood cell index in adolescents of an Ecuadorian population aged 13 to 19 years. Methods: A quantitative correlational, non-experimental, cross-sectional study was carried out in a rural Ecuadorian area (La Victoria parish, Pujilí) with 44 adolescents between 13 to 19 years. Results: Nutritional status was assessed using BMI and waist circumference, and red blood cell index parameters were analyzed using an automated blood count. The results showed that 61.4% had normal nutritional status, 22.7% were overweight, 13.6% were malnourished, and 2.3% were obese. Regarding the red blood cell index, 88.6% had normal values for red blood cells and hemoglobin, while the hematocrit showed an equal distribution between normal and high values (50% each). The most significant finding was that 68.2% had a decreased mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), regardless of nutritional status. Conclusion: It is concluded that there is a complex relationship between nutritional status and red blood cell indices in rural adolescents. The high prevalence of decreased MCHC, regardless of nutritional status, suggests the need to implement comprehensive public health strategies that simultaneously address nutrition and hematological health in this population.